Then, officials from numerous nearby towns and cities said that former Bronx inhabitants had begun appearing in their jurisdictions, apparently having taken there by or in collusion with the Bogota authorities.

Two lawsuits now stand against Peñalosa, one of which could result in the mayor’s impeachment.

The one that should worry Peñalosa the most is the lawsuit filed by the leftist House Representative Alirio Uribe.

The lawmaker and prominent human rights advocate filed charges before the Prosecutor General and the Inspector General’s Office over alleged abuse of authority, forced displacement, and cruel and degrading treatment of people.

If the Inspector General agrees with Uribe, Peñalosa can be suspended and barred from holding public office just like Bogota’s previous two elected mayors.

The second lawsuit was filed by a group action by local merchants who claim to have lost their legal businesses, property and homes by the evacuation of The Bronx.

The merchants and home owners claim that their lost assets were legitimate and that the government’s forced control of and demolition of the area had failed to follow due diligence.

The Bronx, located at only a few blocks from the Presidential Palace, has been a pain in the backside for Bogota’s authorities for decades.

Numerous mayors failed to take control of the area where drug dealers, pimps and kidnappers reigned without too much interference, partly because of corruption within the Bogota police force.